The Gothic Hall of Santi Quattro Coronati

The Caelian Hill, one of the most famous archeological site in Rome, houses a place known as the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages.
It is a Gothic Hall set in the main Tower of a complex called "Santi Quattro Coronati"(in English: Four Crowned Martyrs), a church of  IV century which takes its name from four Christian martyrs killed by Emperor Diocleziano.
This hall is considered an amazing example of Gothic style architecture in Rome and was built by cardinal Stefano dei Conti di Segni, nephew of Pope Innocenzo III and canon of Notre Dame in Paris.
The place is decorated by a cycle of frescoes discovered only in 1996, after being hidden for centuries under successive layers of painting, which were realized in XVI century, when the room was transformed into a monastery's laundry.
According to the critics, the decorations were realized by Terzo Maestro Di Anagni (an anonymous artist) or by Jacopo Torritti (a painter of the “Roman School”) in XIII century.
The frescoes' theme is the relationship between Church and Empire and they represent different biblical characters, such as king Solomon, and members of mendicant orders; but also personifications, such as the Twelve Months, the Arts, the Seasons and the Winds. The Gothic Hall may be visited only by advance booking.
Reservation requests for November 18th and 19th will be accepted from 15th September.
For further information visit the website http://www.aulagoticasantiquattrocoronati.it/

Frescoes of Gothic Hall

Details: Emperor Constantine dreams about S. Peter and S. Paul

Basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati

Summer Snowfall in Rome!

On every 5 August night the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (in Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore), celebrates the fest of Our Lady of Snow, housing a special event called "the miracle of the snow".
Indeed, during this night, the square outside the Basilica is covered by an artificial snowfall (created by the machines) with lights and music.
According to the tradition, on August 5 352 A.D., a roman patrician called John and the Pope Liberius dreamt about the Virgin Mary asking them to build a church in honor of Her.
The next day the Esquilino hill was covered by an incredible snowfall : a miracle which indicated the spot where the Virgin wanted the church.
The Pope and the patrician ordered to build there the Basilica, which was realized by Pope Sixtus III in  432 A.D, maybe over the ancient building created during the Liberius pontificate.
The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is today the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome and includes different art styles.
One of the most interesting place is the Pauline Chapel (in Italian: Cappella Paolina), where the tradition of Our Lady of Snow is still commemorating by dropping white rose petals from the dome during the afternoon of the feast.
The chapel is an important location because of it houses a miraculous Byzantine icon called in Latin “Salus Populi Romani" (in English: deliverance of the Roman people) representing Mary with her son Jesus.
The event starts tonight at 8.30!

The artificial snowfall

Basilica of Saint Mary Major